According to the latest report dell'ACEEE (American Council of Energy-Efficient Economy), Italy is in second place for energy efficiency in the international ranking of the 23 countries that consume more energy.
Our country is on a par with Japan, while in the top of the list is Germany.
The aim of the report, entitled 2016 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, is to examine the policies and practices that each country implements to promote energy efficiency, a term which refers to all technologies and systems to get one same result, but consuming less energy compared to a previous period.
If a company is able to manufacture the same car with a lower use of energy resources, for example, it will be considered more efficient.
Reducing the energy consumption of the most demanding countries poses a potential benefit both economically and environmentally.
"Governments that encourage investment in energy efficiency and implement policies to support it saves money to the people, you make it more independent of imported energy, and contribute to the reduction of pollution," reads the report dell'ACEEE.
"Yet, energy efficiency remains largely untapped globally, despite the many benefits it brings and the fact that potentially represents the only resource that can meet the growing energy demand of the world."
The report predicts that each country can accumulate up to a total of 100 points, which are distributed equally on four different categories of energy efficiency-national commitment, construction, industry and transport-divided in turn into 35 factors specific, such as the efficiency of the heating systems, the presence of laws on water consumption, agreements between governments and manufacturing companies on consumption and so on.
No country has scored the highest rating, by the way-although it was given the maximum number of points in each category at least a country-: Germany has achieved up to 73.5 / 100, reaching for the third consecutive time the results best with regard to energy efficiency national resources spent, while the country with the lowest score was Saudi Arabia (15.5 / 100).
The document also specifies that the absence of verifiable data has been a factor in the analysis, not allowing certain countries-just as the Saudi Arabia-to get an evaluation probably higher.
Dell'ACEEE The researchers used data on consumption and policies collected by institutions and organizations such as the IEA, World Bank, World Energy Council, integrating them with specific field studies.
They are then matched with on-site experts, asking for confirmation of the fact that he "had access to the most accurate information," the report explained.
"The results obtained indicate that there are substantial opportunities for improvement in all evaluated economies," concludes the introduction of the report.
As for the least developed countries such as Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, the right policies in the sectors analyzed could be implemented at this time of economic growth, "the more developed counterparts could lead by example and implement more ambitious policies that would further reduce energy consumption . "
Italy, analyzed specifically on page 99 of the full document (which can be accessed free of charge at dell'ACEEE), it has given a total score of 68.5 out of 100, with a peak of 19 points out of 25 in the industrial sector .
"Italy has demonstrated its commitment to energy efficiency in the industrial sector by establishing energy-saving targets, asking plant managers to meet these targets and requiring periodic checks," the report said.
"The area in which Italy could improve more significantly," the analysis continues, "is to state the commitment."
Although the country you are in fact already working to comply with EU directives on energy, could, according to the ACEEE, increase their investment in the sector, because "it has seen a reduction of only 9 percent of overall energy intensity 2000 and 2013. "
Some countries have made the most significant jump from the previous analyzes dell'ACEEE, such as the United States: from the 13th place in the standings have indeed reached the 8th, by applying stricter standards for fuels for light and heavy vehicles, tax programs and incentives to encourage efficiency and agreements between government and industry.
Dell'ACEEE The paper concludes by offering several recommendations because each state reaches better targets; the international average score achieved is in fact only 51/100, a number that you can definitely work again.
From Vice